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BabuK

JF-Expert Member

BabuK

JF-Expert Member

Zanzibar president Dr Ali Mohmmed Shein has said he doesnt recognize the self-styled reconciliation committee that is working on ensuring Zanzibar becomes a fully autonomous state.

Dr Sheins statement has come hardly a week since Zanzibar first vice President Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad declared that he would work hard alongside other former and current CCM and CUF leaders to ensure the Isles gains full autonomy.

The Zanzibar president made these utterances on Thursday evening at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport soon after he jetted back from a tour in China.

However, Dr Shein hinted that he had since met the committee three times since he entered the highest political office in the isles, the first being in 2010  this time for the sole purpose of congratulating him for winning the presidential elections.

He said the same committee paid him another (second) visit after the fatal marine accident that involved Mv Spice Islander for the objective of offering him condolences. He did not explain when and where he met the committee for the third time.

At no time during his tenure in office so far did he give his blessings to the activities of the so-called reconciliation team  at all  and that he wasnt aware about people who formed it.

The committee that claims to be working round the clock to ensure Zanzibar gains its full autonomy is closely associated with some former Zanzibar political bigwigs, including Dr Salmin Amour Juma and Dr Amani Abeid Karume.

"Go and ask them about who exactly formed that self-proclaimed reconciliation committee. If they dont tell you about it Ill do it (myself0 during the next press conference. For sure andlLuckily enough they know what I told them when they visited me, Dr Shein revealed.

The self-styled reconciliation team also wants Zanzibar to be recognized as a sovereign state by the UN, including giving it its chair at the world body.

Individuals forming the committee that now trumpets for a contractual union between Zanzibar and the Mainland include the first isles minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Nassor Moyo (CCM), who acts as its chairman, and the current Zanzibar Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Abubakar Khamis Bakari (CUF), who works as the committees vice chairman; while CUF Member of the House of Representatives Ismail Jussa Ladhu serves as its secretary.

Other members are former Zanzibar minister Mansour Yusuph Himidi (CCM) and CUF Director of Publicity and Public Relations Salim Bimani (CUF).

"When the committee members came to introduce themselves to me they claimed they belonged to a task force that forged the Zanzibar government of the National unity. Now, all other activities performed by this committee are new to me I am neither involved nor am I in the know, Dr Shein insisted.

Just two days before the Warioba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) unveiled its well acclaimed Katiba draft the committee organised a public rally in Zanzibar, at which it announced ten matters that should be removed from the list of Union matters in the Union Constitution.

Zanzibar First Vice President Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad who addressed the public rally cited the clauses to be deleted to include, inter alia, the nations official name -- United Republic of Tanzania  along with boundaries, Citizenship, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, Currency, Police, Oil and Gas, the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) as well as political parties.

Salim Bimani, the CUF director of publicity and public relations, meanwhile announced that the committee was formed by former Zanzibar president Dr Amani Abeid Karume after he met CUF secretary general Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad during private talks that brought about political reconciliation in the Isles.

The committee coordinated several matters including facilitating a referendum that led to the formation of the (Isles) government of national unity that is why we paid Dr Shein a visit to congratulate him after winning the 2010 general elections, Salim Bimani said.

He said the committee members noted that there was need for the task force to continue defending Zanzibar affairs in the Union government.

The Warioba constitutional review commission (CRC) has now come up with a draft constitution proposing a three-tier government structure -- the Mainland government, the Zanzibar government and the Union government.

It remains unclear what hurdles lie ahead, considering the fact CCM policy has always stood for a two-tier government structure.

Already, CCM Secretary General Abdurahman Kinana has said CCM does not agree 100 per cent with the contents of the CRC draft, adding that the partys Central Committee (CC) is slated to meet next week under its Chairman President Jakaya Kikwete to discuss it.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN